Sliding window structure



May 20, 1952 G. R SMART 2,597,539

sLIDING wmnow STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 www [AMWMay 20, 1952 G. R. sMAR-r 2,597,539

SLIDING WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 /A/vE/vTOR l? TTR/VEY 3 4 e I-, w

Ill. Illl May 20,' 1952' G. R. SMART 2,597,539

sLIADING wINnQw STRUCTURE f firm/wer May 20, 1952 G. R. SMART SLIDINGWINDOW STRUCTURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 May 20, 1952 G. R.SMART SLIDING WINDOW STRUCTURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 Il Illl... H

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/NVE/V TOR 7. Z H TOR/VEY May 20, 1952 G. R. SMART 2,597,539

SLIDING WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ,a n..'Lv w @is Y M WE/wm .1 l I H7 7 ORNE Y Patented May 20, 17952 SLIDINGWINDOW STRUCTURE Gerald Rupert Smart, Brighton, England, as-

signor to John Thompson Beacon Windows Limited, Wolverhampton, EnglandApplication December 20, 1945, Serial No. 636,095 In Great BritainDecember 27, 1944 3 Claims.

This invention relates to sliding windows, roofs. roof lights,ventilators, shutters, doors and the like of the kind comprising atleast two sliding sashes arranged in staggered relationship in parallelor non-parallel planes, and it has for its object to provide an improvedconstruction wherein in opening and rclosing said window or the like atleast two sliding sashes are caused to slide simultaneously but inopposite directions.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improvedarrangement of sliding Window or the like of the above kind having twosections separated from each other laterally and which may be used inany required position and with the sliding sashes or the like in eachsection movable either horizontally, vertically or angularly.

Broadly, the present invention consists of a sliding window, roof, rooflight, ventilator, shutter, door or the like, having at least twosections, each section comprising at least two sliding sashes, saidsliding sashes being cross-coupled to form two pairs of movable slidingsashes, each pair consisting of a sliding sash in one section and asliding sash in, and on the opposite side of, the other section andoperating mechanism adapted to move the sliding sashes in each pairsimultaneously and in opposite directions.

A window or the like according to the present invention may consist oftwo or more sections, each having at least two sliding sashes or thelike with or without iixed sashes, panels or louvers.

In a'ccnstruction according to the present invention the window willcomprise two sections, an inner section and an outer section, eachhaving two sliding sashes, with or without a xed sash, and said slidingsashes will ybe so coupled that one sliding sash of the outer sectionwill move oppositely to but simultaneously with a sliding sash on theopposite side of the inner section while the opposite couple is movableindependently of the rst couple by selective mechanism.

In a further embodiment the sliding sashes move in relation to xedlouvers at each end of the window frame, either two on the outside andtwo on the inside, or two on one side only of the window.

Many further applicationsof the invention are possible and so that theinvention may be clearly understood and carried into eiect several ofsaid applications will now be described by way of example, by aid of theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view illustrating the upper and lower halves of adouble section window, each section comprising three sliding sashes;

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views of the same in the closed and fullyopen positions, respectively;

Figs. 2a and 3a are enlarged diagrammatic views of the showing in Figs.2 and 3;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation illustrating the upper part of awindow according to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line lli-4I of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 42-42 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a part sectional elevation of the bottom half of the Windowshown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in section of Fig. 8; 1

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 45--45 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section on the line 46--46 of Fig. 9; I

Figs. 12 and 13 are Views of the top and bottom halves of a window inpart sectional elevation, but showing the major part of the operatingmechanism in the top half of the Window frame instead of rpart in thetop and part in the bottom as in the preceding arrangement shown inFigs. 4 and 8;

Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 12 with the top sectionremoved;

Fig. 15 yis a section on the line 50-50 in Fig. 13 looking downwards inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the operating gearbox with the coverplateremoved;

Fig. 17 is a part sectional elevation of a construction similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 2, but adapted -for vertical movement of the slidingsashes;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line 53'-53 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a transverse section on the line 54-54 of Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 55-#55 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an elevation to an enlarged scale of one of the Wheeledcarriers for the window illustrated, for example in Fig. 1;

Fig. 22 is a plan view of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a transverse section on the line 64-64 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 is a transverse section on the line 65--65 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation to an enlarged scale 3 of one of the lateralroller guides or followers shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 27 is a section on the line 68-68 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 28 is a transverse section on the line 69-69 of Fig. 2,6;

Fig. 29 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 30 which, in turn, is anenlarged plan view of the actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 31 is an end view of Fig. 29 looking in the direction of thearrows, with parts broken away.

Throughout most of the views inthe drawings like references are used to`indica-te likel parts.

The improved sliding Window, roof light, shutter, ventilator and thelike in all the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawingsAcomprise at least two sliding sashes which are coupled together and tooperating mechanismwhereby the sashes in each couple are caused to movesimultaneously and oppositely froma fully closed position, Where thesashes in each pair are at opposite'ends of' their frame to a fullyopenv position where, the same sashes overlapY each other in the centerofY said frame or pass. intov pockets at the opposite ends of the saidframe. In one arrangement oneslidinglsash in each pair is positivelymoved bythe drivingmechanism while the other and complementary slidingvsash is. coupled to the drivensash thereby to receive its motionvdirectly fromsaid driven sash.

The driving mechanism may conveniently consist of a' driven sprocketwheelover which passes a chain forming either the whole or part of theconnecting medium with the driven sash. Thisk sprocket wheel may eitherbe directly rotated' by means of a` crank handle or throughtheintermediary of a power or manually operated worm and wormwheel` orother suitable form of gearing.

Where the window or the like has more thany one section each consistingvof a. pair of movable sashes, the driving mechanism:` may include aclutch whereby the drive toeachpa-ir of sliding sashes may be selectiveso that any one pair of sashes may be opened and closedat a time.

The; improved windowV of. the presentA invention may.` incorporate any`required numberV` of sections and; eachA sectionf any desired number ofsliding sashes, and;in the diagramsfor-mingpartof the accompanyingdrawings several suitableexamples are shown, also a number of shapesinwhich the Vwindowmay be made.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the improvedwindow isfshown as incorporating twosections eachcontaining three sliding sashes, making; two.centra1= xedsashesaA and B andtwo pairsofv coupled sliding sashes C and- DandEandiF.

Referring now to; the, constructional embodiment illustrated in Figs.l', 2- and 3-andfFig s'. 4 to 111 inclusivathe` window thereinillustrated isl a double section window in which each section comprisestwo movable sashesand a centralsfixed sash. The four movable sashes areindicatedby the references I, 2., 3 and 4and thetwo fixed sashes by thereferences 5 and6 inadditlon'to the' previously mentionedfalphabeticalcharacters.

In generalyas will be seen'most clearly in Figs. 1t to 3the outerright-hand sash 2 is 'coupled'.to the inner left-hand sash' 3; kwhilethe' outer. lefthand sash I is coupled tothe inner: right-hand sash 4,in thev rst case by a pair of horizontal cables 'I and 8 and in theother case byapair of similarly arrangedcables Sand I0. The cable 1 isattached by one end to the right-handzen'd of thesash. 2.1 It. thenpasses around thetwo pulleysV II at the right-hand side of the windowframe and by its other end is attached to the right-- hand end of thesash 3. The other cable 8 in the pair then proceeds from the left-handend of the sash 3, around pulleys I2 at the left-hand side of the windowframe and connects with the lefthand. end of the sash 2'. The cable 9 isattached by one end. to the right-hand end of the sash I. It then passesaround a further pair of pulleys I3 at the right-hand side of the windowframe and connects up with the right-hand end of the sash 4. The cableIIJ then proceeds from the lefthand end of the sash 4, passes around afurther pair of pulleys I-4 at the left-hand side of the window frameand connects up with the left-hand end of the sash I..

As a result of the above connections, sliding movement imparted to thesash 2 will be imparted simultaneously but in the opposite direction tothe sash 3. Similarly, in the case of the sash I and its complementarysash 4. Each pair of sashes is thus movable to any position between thefully closed position shown in Fig. 2 to the fully open position shownin Fig. 3, where each vpair of sashes overlaps its xed sash 5 or 6.

In this embodimentthe driven sashes are I and 3 and to this end they areconnected for selective operation by a cra-nk handle I5, see Figs. 1andl 8` and 9. The connections comprise, in the case ofsash 3, a cableI6 which is attached to the left-hand end of the light, and passes, overa pulley I'l, downwards within the left-hand stile of the window.,around a further pulley I8, along and within` the sill to the right-handlower end of the window when it connects with a length 1 ofchain I9 thatpasses arounda sprocket wheel 20 forming a part of the drivingmechanism. The upper'end of this chain is connected to the righthand endof the sash 3, by a further length of cable 2|. which passes over avfurther pulley 22- to turn the cable from the vertical to thehorizontal. Thev driving connection between the sash` I and the drivingmechanism is identical with but separatev fromthat described inconnection-with sash 3. in that its driving chain 23 passes over a sepayrate sprocket wheel 24, see Figs. 29-and 30., which is drivenindependently of the other sprocket wheel` 27D. by means permittingeither Wheelto be selected foroperation at will.

The means for this purpose, asused in the embodiment: illustrated inFigs. 8 and 9, is-bestto be seen by reference to Figs. 29, 30 and 31,and comprises a lay shaft 25 on which are mountedthe elements of adouble dog clutch'consisting of yright andleft-hand clutch members 26and 21 mounted free on saidshaft-and an intermediate dog 28 which ismounted between the two clutch members andA on a'splinedportion 25aofAthe shaft so as to be rotated thereby but free to have endwise slidingmovement into., and outof engagement with theteeth ofV each clutchmember alternatively. This lay shaft 25 is driven `by the aforesaidcrankfhandle I5.

The clutch members are provided with teeth'. to formsprocket wheelswhich connect by short continuous chains with further sprocketwheels 28that are-mounted on-thetwo portions 30and 3| of a divided shaft, oneoneach portion, tlieportion 30 carryingr the sprocket wheel 20'and theother portion 3I the sprocket wheel 24; As aresult the engagement of`clutchl member 2B bythe center dog 28i and rotation of handle I5 willrotate. sprocket wheel. 24 andI soA impart opposite movements to theconnected sashes I and4while similar rotation of the sprocket wheel 20,through selective operation of the dog 28, will produce separateoperation of the sashes 2 and 3.

The striking gear for sliding the dog 28 along the splined' section 25aof the shaft 25 comprises a striker arm 32 the lower end of whichengages the usual circumferential groove in the ilange of the dog whilethe upper end is mounted upon so as to swing about a striker shaft 33 ina xed plane which shaft is given its endwise movement by partiallyrotating the shaft by means of a finger piece 34 that is movable inrelation to an indicator 35, see Fig. 1. This causes a follower 36,mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft to ride over the helicalsurface of a cam 31 and so effect endwise displacement of the shaft 33in either direction according to the direction in which the finger piece34 is turned.

The window of the embodiment just described is rendered draftproof byaixing weathering strips or rubber beading as at 38 between the verticalcontacting surfaces of the sash frames and providing vertical recesses39 in the stiles of the window to receive the vertical end of eachmovable sash when closed, said recesses being lined with a suitablyyielding material.

The supporting and guiding means for each movable sash is illustrated inFigs. 4 to 11 and to a larger scale in Figs. 21 to 28 and comprises forthe upper supports a plate 4D adapted to be amxed to the horizontal sideof the sash frame. This plate carries a saddle 4l in the form of a metalbar forming a mounting for two pairs of vertical supporting wheels 42having bearings at each end of the saddle for supporting the weight of asash and a horizontal or transverse wheel 43 for maintaining the sashagainst lateral displacement while to each end of said saddle are afxedthe ends of the operating and connecting cables. In some cases, such ascurved windows, the transverse wheels may be arranged to lead thevertical wheels in both directions of movement of the sash or pane.

As shown for example, in Figs. 6 and '1, each saddle with its supportingand guiding wheels is mounted to run within box-like guide channels 44in the head of the main window frame so as to be completely enclosedtherein while each depending plate 46 extends through a narrow slot inthe bottom of each channel 44, said slots being edged, for preference,with resilient beading strips 45 which upon the passing of the dependingplate automatically control and close the aperture in each channel.

The guiding means for the lower ends of the sashes are illustrated inFigs. 8 and l0 and Figs. 25 to 28 and comprise a further plate 46 whichis slotted as at 41 near each end for the reception of lateral guidingwheels 48. Where desired these lower guiding means may also includevertical supporting wheels similar to those used at the top of eachsash. Each wheel is mounted to revolve freely on a vertical pivot pin 49the mounting for which is made from a bar of double channel section 50one length of which is affixed at each end of the plate 46, and drilledand bushed to provide a bearing for the pivot pin 49.

The above guiding means, similarly to those for the upper ends of thesashes, run within box-like guide channels 5 I in the sill portion ofthe window frame.

In Figs. 17 to 20 I have shown a construction whereby the arrangement ofFigs. 1 to 3 and 4 and 5 may be adapted for a vertical window. This is awindow in which the movable sashes are moved vertically insteadofhorizontally. In this embodiment sashes l and 4 are connected at theirlower edges by a chain 52 which passes around a sprocket wheel 53 and apulley 54 disposed within the sill of the window frame and on theiropposite sides by a cable 55 which passes over pulleys 56 and 51,l inthe top of the window frame. The other movable sashes 2 and 3 areconnected at their lower ends by a chain 58 which passes over a sprocketwheel 59 and a pulley 60 `in the sill of the window frame. The oppositeends of these sashes are connected by a cable 6I which passes aroundpulleys 62 and 63 in the top of the window frame.

Thevcoupled sashes are adapted to be driven independently through theirrespective sprocket Wheels 53 and 59 by worm gearing operated by thehandle I5. The worm wheels are indicated respectively at 64 and 65 andtheir worms at 66 and 61. These worms in turn are mounted upon a shaft68 which is rotatable by the handle l5 and mounted to have end movementso that by pulling out the handle I5 the shaft assumes the positionshown in Fig. 20 with a splined portion 69 in driving engagement withthe worm 66. A further splined portion 10 is then out of drivingengagement with the other worm 61. By pushing in the handle l5 thisfurther splined portion 10 is moved into driving engagement with theworm 61 while the other splined portion is moved out of drivingengagement with the worm 66 which in consequence is free on the saidshaft. In the first and illustrated position of the shaft 68 the sashesl and 4 are moved by the rotation of the handle l5 while the othercoupled pair of sashes 2 and 3 remain stationary, but in the second orinward position of the shaft this latter pair of sashes is moved whilethe first pair remains stationary. The driving connections between theworm wheels 64 and 65 and the sprocket wheels 53 and 59 each consist ofa continuous chain 1| which passes around sprocket wheels associatedwith the worm wheels and further sprocket wheels 12 and 13 which aremounted on the same shafts as the sprocket wheels 53 and 59. Thesprocket wheels 53 and 59 with the chains 52 and 56 and the drivetherefor, also the cable cou-v plings for both pairs of sashes areduplicated for the opposite side of each sash as will clearly be seen inFig. 17, thus providing a balanced support for each movable sash.

In Figs. 12 to 16 I have illustrated a window similar to thatillustrated in Figs. 4 to 8, but with the fixed sashes omitted for thesake of clearness, modied to permit the couplings for all the sashes tobe embodied wholly within the top half of the window frame for whichpurpose they are arranged horizontal.

In this embodiment the two inner sashes represented by their carriers 14and 15 are coupled together to form one coupled pair and the two outersashes similarly represented by their carriers 16 and 11 to form theother coupled pair. In both cases the couplings each consist, on oneside, of a chain and, on the opposite side, of a length of cable. In thedrawing the length of chain for the two inner sashes is indicated at 18and that for the two outer sashes by the reference 19 while therespective cables are indicated at 86 and 8l. The driving means comprisetwo horizontal sprocket wheels, that for the chain 18 being indicated at82 and that for the chain 19 at 83. These sprocket wheels are mountedupon vertical shafts 64 and 85 respectively and these are driven by wormand wormwheel in the same manner as in the preceding example, said worm-7 wheels being. each indicated"v by the reference'y 86.

As will be seen from the drawings the sashes inl afwindow according tothe present invention may be `cross-connected in any suitable mannerprovidedthat said window includes at least two pairs which when theoperating gear is vworked will movesimultaneonsly but oppositely to eachother. Also. where required., pipes may be incorporated in the windowframe forA the-introducing of hot air between thev sections of slidingsashes.

It will, of course, be understood that in any of the examplesillustrated the connecting means may consist wholly of lengths' ofchain. Further, the supporting means may consist of or comprise ball:vand/ orroller bearings.

It is also to be understood' that a sliding win'- dow or the like mayinclude further refinements such as' a slipping clutch. in the operatingmeans to prevent over-run, window boards and the like. |Il'heslidingsashes for the windows can be fitted with. any type 'of glazing.For example, each sash` may comprise two panes ofv glass spaced apartto. leave,v a narrow space into which chemicallytreated air may beintroduced.

Where 'the windows are used'in inaccessible positions operation may beby remote control -and1 actuation effected by hand, by electric'motor,

or bymeans of a fluid under pressure'.

`It will be seen that a window or the like according4 to the presentinvention besides being air-baffling is also sound reducing inyconsequence ofi the alternate opening of the sliding sashes.

Although ink all the examples illustrated the sliding sashes are shown'as being parallel to each other,. they mayl be inclined in relation toeach other,4 preferably inl the direction-of their movement. This` willLproduce a convergingV or diverging. efiect'on thel air'currents thuspermitting the regulationof their velocities.

The movement of the free sliding sashes or panels can; be governed' tocover safety precautionsfin dangeroussituations.

Although I have illustrated in the drawings planar vconfigurations forthe sections and the sliding; sashes it. is within the province of thisinvention to' provide an arrangement wherein the same-are curved orbowed with the cooperating -supp'orting and guiding means associatedwith the opposing ends of the' Vsliding sashes being. of bowedi orcurved confdguration for'movement in analogous shaped channels formed-inthe frame. AlthoughA I have't shown structures with double sections,itis-within the province of this inventionto provide triple-section'sliding sash. structures for Window, roof light, door.y or `like;.apertures.

Havingv now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is -to be performed, I declarethat wha-tI claim is.:

l. I-n a sliding sash structure of the class descri-bed, at least fourmovable sashes arranged in pairsy in two different butl parallel planes,mea-ns for' 'cross-coupling said sashes to form at least twoy pairsthereof, each pair consisting of a sash in one `plane and a sashvtransversely, diametrically and equidistantly displaced. from the nrs-t1sash in` the adjoining plane, lmeans connecting opposite ends of eachsaid sash pair vto form a closed circuit coupling therefor, mechanismoperatively connected withv said coupling means for moving the sashes ineach pair of sashes simultaneously and oppositely to each other out ofand intoclosed-position;`

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means fordisplacing the sashes of the respective pairs is operatively associatedwith the connecting means for each pair ofsashes and' selectivelyactuatable for displacing one pair of coupled sashes independently ofthe other pairs of coupled sashesa 3; A- str-ucture in accordancewithclaim' 1`. wherein, lin thel fully closed positioneachpair has twolsliding, sashes and a centralxedsash intermediate the same, and whereinin the fully open positionv all four movable sashes assume a positionparallel to and in' alignment withlthe central fixed sashes.

GERALD RUPERT SMART.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following; references are of record' inx the 'leof. thisl patent:

UNITEDy STATESV PATENTS

